Pictorial display apparatus



June 21, 1932. G. w. ESCHENBACH PICTORIAL DISPLAY APPARATUS f5 SheetsSheet Filed March 28, 1931 In men for Gusiavus Wfsckenbad W June 21, 1932. (5, w. ESCHENBACH 1,863,623

I PICTORIAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1me 1932- G. w ESCHENBACH PICTORIAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 28, 1931 in v e7 for 6 13/4005 Wfsc/eizfiw Patented June 21, 1932 stares PATEN PIG'IORIAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Application filed March 28, 1931: serial at. 526,092.-

Th-is invention relates to a pictorial display apparatus of the generei character of that shown in my United States Patent 1,7283%, patented September 17, 1929.

The object of the invention is to improve pictoral display apparatus particularly in the arrangement of the means for providing the illumination, and in the combination thereof with means for mounting the pictorial displays that are to be illuminated.

Gne feature of this invention consists in mounting electric lamps in fixed connection with revolvable display cylinders and i n'de pendently of the shaft on which the cylinders are frictionally mounted, a means for supplying electric current to the lamps at alltimes duringthe revolution of the cylinders. Another feature of the invention consists in providing terminal members in each side of each cylinder which register and contact with the terminal members of the adjacent cylinders, so the current will be passed through the various cylinders to the lamps therein, whereby the lamps may be varied in colors and the cylinders may be given varied degrees of rotation and yet the lamps be constantly illuminated. Another feature of this invention consists inadapting the machine to the use of neon li hting in connection with said electric lamp lighting or independently thereof.

The full nature of this invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig.1 is a central vertical section through the apparatus, a portion of each end being broken away. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the stationary terminal member shown at the left hand end of Fig. 1, a part thereof being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the left side of one of the cylinders. Fig. 4: is a plan view of adjacent terminal blocks, parts being broken away or omitted. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the right hand terminal member in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the apparatus with the driving'mechanism omitted. Fig. 7 is a' section on the line 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan View of two adjacent terminal members and associated parts partly broken away. 9 is a vertical section of one of the terminal members and a shaft, the shaft, however, being broken away as indicated. Fig- 10 is a perspective view of a lamp bracket. Fig. 11 is a central verticalsectionof a partl of an apparatus showing amodified form of the invention adapted for usin'g neon lighting. and the like in addition to the incandescentl-ighting, or employing either of said means of illumination, parts being broken away and parts omitted. Fig. 12 is an elevation of the inner side of the stationary terminal member showing the shaft in section. Fig. 13 is a similar view of the right hand side ofthe terminal member at the right hand side of one of the cylinders, the said shaft being in section on the'line 1313 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 1 1 is a plan view of apart of one of the cylinders,- remaining portions beingbroken away. Fig. 15 is asection of a cylinder on the line 15 15 of Fig. 11, a part being broken away. Fig. 16 is an elevation of the terminalmember in the left hand side of each cylinder.

In this apparatus there is acentral rotatable shaft 10 horizontally disposed preferably with one end mounted in a frame member 11, but the means for mounting the other end and the means for driving it are not shown, as they constitute no necessary part of the" present invention. On this shaft there are mounted a" plurality of pictorial display cylinders, six of them as shown in Fig. 6. Each cylinder is composed of two end walls 12 hexagonal in form, as shown here, and connected by a plurality of longitudinally extending lamp brackets 13, and on the periphery of each end wall 12 there are corner pieces 111, adapted to receive removable pictorial glass plates 14, as desired. In each of the pictorial cylinders here shown there are six lamp brackets 18 and each lamp bracket has turned-up ends 15, secured by screws 16 through holes 17 to the end walls 12 of the cylinder. On each lamp bracket 13 there an electric lamp 19 removably mounted in lamp socket 18.

The six pictorial cylinders are frictionally mounted on the shaft 10 by' means shown in V in i as

Fig. 9, so that said cylnders will normally rotate with the shaft. This movement is ordinarily a slow movement, but the frictional mounting of the cylinders permits any cylinder to be manually or otherwise inclependently turned to any desired extent in order to adjust the cylinders to present the pictures therein as desired.

Means for frictionally holding the cylinders on the shaft, as shown in Fig. 9 herein, consists of a set screw 20, threaded into one of the terminal blocks 21, surrounding the shaft and centrally mounted in the side wall of the cylinder. Said screw 20 forces a friction head 22 agains" the shaft 10 through the intervention of an intermediate spiral spring 23. By changing the screw, the pressure of the friction head 21 on the shaft can be increased or diminished as desired.

There is a terminal member or block 21 in each end wall 12 of each cylinder, as seen in Fig. l, and on each of said terminalblocks there is secured a series of angle irons 25, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7, with which the bent ends of the bracket 13 engage and through which the screws 16 extend so that the side wall 12 is rigidly mounted on the terminal block 21 and rigidly connected by the bracket 13 with the terminal block and side wall 12 on the other side of the cylinder, thus constituting a rigid unit.

The terminal block 21 in the left hand side of each cylinder, as seen in Fig. 3, has a series of segmental metal positive plates 30 and a corresponding series of segmental negative plates 31 in pairs, secured thereto, there being a pair of these plates for each lamp in each cylinder. Therefore, there are six of said segments, as shown in Fig. 3, in each series.

From each of the positive segments 30 a positive wire 32 leads to the lamp and from the lamp a negative wire 33 leads to the negative segments 31 and from those wires 32 and 33 corresponding wires lead to the spring pressed brushes 34 in the opposite terminal block of each cylinder, as seen in Figs. 4 an d 5, andsaid brushes extend through corresponding contact plates 130 on said terminal block 21 as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The terminal plates 130 on one side of the cyl-- inder register with the terminal plates 30 on the other side of the cylinder so that the brushes engage said plates. The same arrangement is made with reference to the negative brushes 134 and negative terminals- 131. Thus the positive and negative terminal plates are concentric on the sides of all the cylinders.

At the left hand end of Fig. 1 there is secured a stationary terminal block 40, similar to the other terminal blocks and having similar positive segmental plates 230 and positive negative plates 231. On the two segments of these plates 230 and 231 are provided Leeaee.

43 therefrom extends to each brush in the it stationary block 40. The negative current passes from the negative brushes through the connection 44, binding post 45, and negative line 46, as shown in Fig. 1.

As appears in Fig. 1, therefore, the electric lamps of each longitudinal row are connected in series with the positive line and also with the negative line and as the shaft rotates, current illuminates said lamps in two rows, preferably the two front rows, and the remaining lamps are dark. This is controlled by the stationary terminal block 40 shown in Fig. 2 which has only two sets of segments adapted to transmit current and they are at the front of the machine. The number of rows of lamps to be simultaneously illuminated may be changed as desired.

The cylinders can be independently turned and each has its own path, being separated from the other cylinders by pins 50, as seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, but as each is individually turned, or. adjusted relative to any other cylinder, the lamp lighting connections are maintained. By changing the color as by using colored lamps, quite a varied lighting eifect can thus be produced. If one pictorial cylinder is independently retarded or accelerated, its positive terminals would change relative pos tions with the corresponding terminals on the adjusting cylinders or in the stationary terminal block 40.

From the foregoing itwill be understood that as the shaft and pictorial cylinders rotate, there is a supply of current through the two front rows of lamps 19 for a short period of time and as the rotation thereof proceeds one of said rows of lamps goes out and another row comes in, so that there is a constant procession of the rows of lamps, but at least two rows of lamps are illuminated all the time in the form herein shown. if one pictorial cylinder is independently rctarded or accelerated the lamps in the illunnnated row would thereby be changed. employing different colors of lamp globes, the illumination would be changed mechanically and constantly and in any desired order or arrangement of colors.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 1116 makes no change in the illumination of the incandescent lamps, but it adds an additional means of illumination, properly termed neon lighting.

There the stationary terminal block or member is employed, it being similar to the block 40 shown in Fig. 2, excepting that it has four circular rows of terminals instead of two. The two inner rows are the same as shown in Fig. 2 and control. the illumination with the incandescent lamps in the 1 ceases a t l-trough the line 78,- binding post 7 9', and arm 89 There a-re two. sections of 5 negative ter m-ina-lsinchid i-ngthe plates 81* and brushes- 82 that are connected Witli= the negativeline 83 arm= 183- and co1-1'tact283. These lines are controlled by switch 94;

The terminal week; 85 in the'left hand wall of z'eachcylinder r has similar ternrinalplatesto't'hose shown in- Fig. 3, excepting that there arefo'ur co-ncenti-ic series of plat'es as-seenin Fig.- 1 6 and arecontacted' by the-brushes inthe adj acent terminal block.-

The terminal block in theright hand end oi? each =cylinder, shown'in 'Fig I3,- is simi lE I-I tD fih'EH?Sl1OWII-i1TFig 5, excepting that theyhave two addi-t'ionaP rows of contact plates 87 and .88, concentric with therem-aincontaet-plates, andclosin-g thecircuit'to tlife neon lighting means, as Sl-IQWITifl' Fig: 1 3 All the seriesof segments extend entirely around the face of the terminal block- Each pictoria -l cylinder has in each secti'o u thereof, as shown in Figsl iand 15, a neon uni't QQ extending across-the cylinder as seen in Fig; Iel and aglass-l tcontaining the pictorial matter extends tosaidneon unit, sub stantial lyas SliOWIi-r Each liQOIYllIiili is connected with the source of positive electricityby: a line 9-1 "and there is a negative line 92 extending te thecorrespondingsegments in the terminal blocl'z -inthe sideo-fihe cylinderas illustrated iirF-ig; The-neon tube 93 'may be formed in: d'esi-gi'i that shown:

in Fi sho win the word Neon but the word: or} design of said neon? tube is prefew ably related to the pictorial subject 1 matter below it, on eachsecti on of the cylinder.

There is switch 84- Y controlling the: current io thelamps and a switch: 94 controih ng. the; current 1 to the" neon: "light unit as shown 11. Therefore; if both switches 84: and-9 E are closed, botlrthe-rincandescent lamps and neon tubes-in two sections of the cylinders will be illuminated, and any desiredchange in what is shownxmay :beeifected: by

annularly adjusting. any cylinder on the sh aft 10for all of them. If switch 84 is closed, and 94' open, only lamp illumination results. If switch Q'eE-is closed and 84 open, only-neon liglitingwil'l result.

I'n"Fig'. 1 1 a slight change in the arrange-- ment of thewires to the lamp circuit is made fortlie purpose of illustration. Current over wire .4 is" connected to contact 4c-2' 'connectedbywire 43 to arm ;1l3arranged to supply -current'to-the-brushesti. Another arnr is arranged to take the current off the brushes 134%andthrough wire 44 delivers itito the contact 1.45 Olls'fhfi switch .84 to the negative wire 46.

Intoperationathe shaft 1 6 is drivenutoi rotate the cylinders, which rotation will' move the parts as described-to light the rows-or lamps 19' ii iterniittentl y and when the cylinders are equipped with the neon tubes 93- androtate'd as stated they; as well as the lamps, are li-gl'i ted'.

I claim as my invention i 1. Pictorial display apparatus, including a shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders mounted thereonso as to be independ ently revolved, illuminating means mounted each cylinder, and means in each cylinder rigistering with corresponding means in ad'- ja'c'ent cylinders for maintaining such illumination in a plurality of cylinders from a singlesource oi. electricity.

2.- Pictorial display apparatus including a shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders frictio'nally mounted thereon so as to revolve therewith or be independently revolved asd'e'sired, illuminating means mounted 'i n each cylinder, and electric terminals in -each end of each cylinder electrically connected with said illuminating means and reg isteringf with and engaging corresponding terminals in adjacent cylinders for supplying current to said illuminating means.

3.; Pictorial display apparatus, including a shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders mounted thereon so as to be independ ent'ly revolved, il'luminating' means mountedineach cylinder and revolu-ble' therewith around said shaft, and positive and negative electric terminal-s mounted in each cylinder and revoluble therewith about the shaft, said positive terminals beingarranged' insegments concentric with the axis of the shaft andeach positive electric segment being elec-- trical ly connected with its correspondingind-rvid ual"liluminatmg means in each cylinden.

4-; Pictorial display apparatusflncluding a shaft," a p-li'irality of individual pictorial cylinders mounted side byside-onsaid shaft so as" to bezindependently revolved,- a plurality of illuminating means mounted in each cyllnd'er and mannular series, an electric terminal in each endof each cylinderhavingf separate positive segments in annular series,

and electrical connection between each positive segment of the terminal and its corresponding illuminating means in said cylin ders.

5. Pictorial display apparatus, including ashaft,ia-i plurality of individual pictorial cylinders mounted side by side on said shaft so as to be independently revolved, a pluralityelectrical connections between each positive segment of the=terminal and its correspond ingii-lluminating: means in saidcylinder, With the'terminals' inthe-end of each cylinder frictionally engaging correspondingly located;

terminals in the adjacent cylinder, whereby a longitudinal row of illuminating means would be simultaneously illuminated and each cylinder can be independently rotated to bring into such row the desiredillumrnating means in any cylinder.

6. Pictorial display apparatus, including a shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders mounted thereonso as to be independently revolved, an annular series of illuminating means mounted in each cylinder and revoluble with the cylinder, a terminal member having an annular series of positive segmental terminals and a negative annular terminal mounted in each end of each cylinder concentric with the shaft, a positive line running from each illuminating means to a positive segment, a negative line running therefrom to the negative terminal, and a stationary terminal member surrounding the shaft adjacent to the terminal member in a cylinder and having similarly formed electric terminals therein that are frictionally engaged by the terminals in the cylinder, and means for supplying current to the positi ve terminal segments.

7 Pictorial display apparatus, including a rotary shaft, a pictorial cylinder frictionally mounted thereon consist-ing of two end walls with means in their peripheries to receive pictorial illustrations, a plurality of lamp bracketssecured at each end to the walls of said cylinder in a series surrounding said shaft, a lamp mounted on each bracket, a terminal member surrounding the shaft and secured in an end wall of the cylinder, an annular negative terminal in said terminal member connected with the negative side of the lamps, a series of segmental terminals in said terminal member concentric therewith, each of said segments connected wit-h the positive side of said-lamp, a corresponding stationaryterminal member surrounding the shaft adjacent said terminal member in the cylinder and with similar terminals therein as are in the terminal memher in said cylinder, and means for supplying current with said series of segmental terminals.

8. Pictorial display apparatus, including a rotary shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders frictionally mounted thereon, each cylinder consisting of two end Walls with means in their marginsito receive pictorial illustrations, a plurality'of lamp brackets secured at each end to the walls of said cylinder in a series surrounding said shaft, a lamp socket on each bracket, a terminal member surrounding the shaft and secured in the end wall of the cylinder, a negative terminal in each terminal member connected with the negative side of lamp sockets in v in each terminal member. and concentric therewith and each of said segments con-' nected with the positive side of a lamp, a corresponding stationary terminal member surrounding the shaft adjacent the terminal member in the adjacent cylinder, and means for supplying a positive current to said series of positive segmental terminals, whereby the lamps of the entire series of cylinders will be supplied with current from a single source.

9. Pictorialdisplay apparatus,including a shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders frictionally mounted thereon, each cylinder having two similar end walls, a cylindrical terminal member in each end Wall surrounding said shaft, a plurality of radially projecting angle plates, a series of electric lamp sockets, a bracket for mounting each lamp socket and each bracket bent at each end thereof to form an upturned end adapted to be secured upon and to the angle plates on said terminal member, means for supplying electric current to said terminal, and means in said cylinder for conveying current to the lamp.

10. Pictorial display apparatus, including a shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders mounted thereon so as to be independently revoluble, an electric lamp, and a neon tube mounted in connection with each cylinder so as to revolve therewith, and means in each cylinder registering with corresponding means in adjacent cylinders for supply-. ing electricity to said lamps and neon tubes in said plurality of cylinders. v

11. Pictorial displaytapparatus including a shaft, a plurality of individual pictorial cylinders mounted thereon so as to be independently revolved and each cylinder havinga plurality of pictorial faces, an electric lamp, and a neon tube for each pictorial face being mounted in each ofsaid cylinders and electric terminals in each end of eachcylinder electrically connected with saidelectric lamps and neon tubes and registering with and engaging corresponding termina-ls in adjacent cylinders for supplying electric current thereto. 4

12. Pictorial display apparatus including a shaft, afplurality of individual pictorial cylinders frictionally mounted thereon, so as to revolve therewith or be independently revolved as desired, each cylinder. having a plurality of pictorial faces in the periphery thereof, and a neon tube construction mounted .in each pictorial face of each cylinder, electric lamps mounted in each cylinder, one

for each pictorial-face, and electric terminals in each end of each cylinder electrically connected with said lamps and neon tubes and registering with and engaging corresponding terminals in adjacent cylinders for supplying current to said neon tubes. 5

13. Pictorial display apparatus including GUSTAVUS W. ESGHENBAGH. 

